244 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



position. In the United States a larger num- 

 ber of white Pekin ducks are raised for market 

 than of any other breed. 



If there is a species that has rapidly made 

 itself a world-wide reputation, it is the duck of 

 India. Not long ago this breed was completely 

 unknown to us, and now it is offered for sale 

 in every poultry journal in every land. It is 

 one of the most fertile of ducks, laying from 

 150 til 160 eggs a year. It is also very good 



XII. Geese 



The breeding of geese is far from being 

 general. Like that of ducks, it is done on a 

 large scale only in certain countries. Fanciers 

 raise a few, but only for the purpose of send- 

 ing them to shows. Here and there a few 

 large farms have attempted to raise them, 

 gi\-ing it up after a time as unproductive. 

 Breeding on a large scale is practiced only 

 in the south of France, near Toulouse, in the 



Geesi; fattening for the Market 



Photo J. T. Newman, Berkhampstead 



for the table, its flesh being extremely delicate. 

 It is very active and can fly far. These birds 

 have no absolute need of water ; they prefer to 

 roam the meadows and fields in search of 

 worms and other grubs. 



Various species of decorative ducks e.xist ; 

 of these the Madeiras and the Carolinas are 

 the most beautiful. They are usually kept in 

 aviaries and zoological gardens. The wild 

 ducks of the mountains and the fens are 

 very beautiful in plumage, but they cannot be 

 classed as domestic animals. 



south of Belgium, in the east of Prussia, in 

 Italy, and in Russia, all of which supply the 

 markets of other countries. Russia especially 

 inundates the German markets. The business 

 is very productive because the feeding of geese 

 costs nothing. A goose needs no other food 

 than grass, which it finds in sufficient quantity 

 on the vast steppes of Russia. The goose girl 

 goes to the fields every morning with her flock, 

 returning at night to the village. 



If geese had to be fed on grain it would 

 not pay to raise them ; the expense would 



